Had I known prior to reading this novel that its storyline would be overwhelmingly political, I would not have chosen to read it at this time. However, I was interested in the follow-up story to Obasan, which was Joy Kogawa's novel about the breaking up and internment of Japanese Canadian families during and after World War II. This book, Itsuka (meaning "some day"), which I found in a friend's used bookstore in Ontario, continues the story of the broken-up families who went on to continue their lives in eastern Canada, with our protagonist Naomi's family in Toronto, a city which I had the good fortune to visit recently. I was up for reading a novel based in Toronto!

My love of this story had to do with many things. Naomi, a shy middle age woman, with a devoted sense of family, rang through as a quiet beacon of support for those who were for years organizing Japanese Canadians to demand redress for their suffering, internment, loss of property, and exile due to racism by the Canadian government. Failing to recognize the devotion of Japanese Canadians to their adopted country, an entire culture of Japanese immigrants, their children, and their grandchildren were kept subdued with their requests for redress unheard.

A powerhouse in the novel was Naomi's Aunt Emily who was undisturbed by age or illness in her dedication to organize her fellow Japanese Canadians to seek redress despite many recurring setbacks.

I was thoroughly mesmerized by the political debates between Aunt Emily's faction, who sought monetary compensation for her compatriots, and Nikki's faction, which sought merely an apology with maybe some funds available through a foundation. The political debates were spirited, heated, and absolutely believable.

I was deeply disturbed by Stephen, Naomi's brother, who by virtue of his being a talented musician, became famous and pretty much out of touch with his family. It was a deep hurt to Naomi and remained pervasive throughout this novel.

I know this book is fiction, but since it is based on a true historical situation, it makes that time come alive in a way that no recitation of mere facts can. In order to best enjoy this novel, I would encourage readers to take a few moments beforehand to learn about Canada's acknowledgement of its injustice to the Japanese Canadians in 1988 before you yourself step into the shoes of Naomi Nakane in this amazing novel. ( )

Itsuka, which means someday, continues the story of Naomi, a young Japanese Canadian girl whose life was changed by the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. At the end of Obasan Naomi, her brother Stephen, her Uncle and Obasan had been moved to southern Alberta to work on a sugar beet farm.

Naomi grows up and becomes a teacher in the fictional town of Granton where her uncle and aunt live. There are very few other Japanese families near them but Naomi does make friends with some Mennonites. Stephen, a musical prodigy, escapes and becomes a famous musician but abandons his family. Even when Obasan is dying he ignores her wish to see him.

Naomi's Aunt Emily (her mother's sister) arranges for Naomi to live with her in Toronto but first they travel to Japan to see her mother's grave. Naomi has an epiphany of sorts:
"I kneel by the maple tree and know.We're, all of us, dead and alive. We the dead and we the living are here among the trees, the coloured snails, the moss, the singing insects. We're everywhere here in the sound of distant traffic, in the long-haired grass, in the filtered sunlit haze. In this short visit, on this hot muggy day, within the one hour at Mama's grave, I meet the one I need to meet."

In Toronto Naomi becomes involved, reluctantly at first, in the fight for redress. She also, for the first time, discovers love. The rest of the book covers those two facets of her life. Although this is a work of fiction I have no doubt that the details about the fight for redress are true. I was very interested in this aspect. Winnipeg has a fairly large Japanese Canadian community because many internees were also sent to Manitoba to work on the farms. In fact, one of my close friends from University had a Japanese mother and white father because his mother's family came to work on his father's family farm and they fell in love. I wish now I had taken the time to talk to Tim's Mom about her experiences. It would be interesting to know how closely Naomi's story reflects reality.

I am thankful that the Government of Canada finally apologized and compensated Japanese Canadians. At the end of Itsuka the full text of the government statement is reproduced. For me the most important sentence is "...the Government of Canada, on behalf of all Canadians, does hereby:...
(2) pledge to ensure to the full extent that its powers allow, that such events will not happen again;"
Amen. ( )

Itsuka is the sequel to Obasan, which is a beautifully written novel about the internment and relocation of Japanese Canadians during and after WWII. Itsuka takes place mostly in the 80s and is the story of the JC fight for redress and compensation. I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as Obasan. The story was scattered and repetitive and just not as interesting. Some moments of beautiful writing, but not very consistent. ( )